Parlor-easel



(No' Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

B. G. OHORMAN'N.

'PARLOR BASEL. I No. 261,90 X. Patented Aug. 1, 1882.

maannmm A A :Moo 0 o o ovum- '9 c rm 1 1 (No Model.) 2 Sheets- -Sheet2'.

E. G. GHORMANN.

PARLOR EASBL. 7

Patemited Aug. 1, 1882.

UNiTEn STATEsj PATENT GFFIGE.

ERNEST G. OHORMANN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

.PARLO Ri-EASEL.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 261,908, dated August 1,1882.

Application filed November 14,1881. (No model.) i

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNEST GEORGE 0110R- MANN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certainImprovements in Parlor Easels, of which the following is aspecification.

The main object of my invention is to so construct a picture-exhibitingeasel that when the structure is not required for the display ofpietures it can be at once converted into a pedestal for supporting abronze bust or statue.

1n the accompanying drawings, Figure 1, Sheet 1,'is a perspective view,illustrating my invention in its simplest form; Fig. 2, a front view ofa more elaborate structure as it appears when adjusted to form anornamental pedestal for a bust, statue, or other ornamental object; Fig.3, a vertical section of Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a perspective view of thestructure adjusted to form a parlor-easel supporting four pictures; Fig.5, Sheet 2, a vertical section of Fig. 4; Fig. 6, a transverse verticalsection of Fig. 4; Fig. 7, a sectional plan on the line l 2, Fig. 5;Fig. 8, a modification of Fig. 7, and Fig. 9 perspective diagramsillustrating my invention. I

I will in the first instance describe my invention in its simplest form,as shown in the perspective view, Fig. 1, in which A represents apedestal of wood, terra-cotta, papier-mach, or any other suitablematerial or combination of materials, the pedestal being either round,square, or of any other form, and being ornamented as the taste of theconstructer may suggest.

An extension-slide, B, is so adapted to an opening in the pedestal thatit can be raised and lowered, and on the top of this slide is a cap, Gr.When the extension-slide is depressed the cap rests on the top of thepedestal and forms a base on which the bust or statue rests; but whenthe structure has to be arranged for exhibiting pictures theextension-slide is ele vatedand two pictures arranged back to back, andone on each side of the slide, may be placed with their lower edges onthe top of the pedestal, the cap bearing on the upper edges of thepictures, the outward displacement of which may be prevented by ribs orother suitable devices on the top of the pedestal and under side of thecap. The pedestal and cap may be made of semi-cylindrical form, fortitting against the wall when one picture only has to be exhibited.

I will now proceed to describe the more elaborate structure, referencebeing had to the re maining figures of the drawings.

As shown in Fig. 7, the opening in the pedestal is cruciform, and theextension-slide B, preferablyof quadrangular section, is arranged to fitsnugly, but to move in that part of the cruciform opening indicated inFig. 7, so that when the slide is within the pedestal two openings, a a,willbe presented in the latter, one on each side of the slide--anarrangement which will be best understood by reference to the manner twosimilar arms are hinged to the 'other lug on the opposite side of theextensionslide; and these arms, also resting on the pedestal, form asecond support for the lower edge of another picture, M, the twopictures being thus arranged back to back, one on each side of theslide. It should be here under stood that in this instance the cap G isin two sections, at and h.

To the interior of the extension-slide B is adapted a secondextension-slide, J, to the top of which is attached the above-mentionedsection 01 of the cap G of the pedestal, the other section, It, beingadapted to but loose on the second extension-slide, so that the latter,when depressed, can slide in the said section.

When the structure has been extended to its full height for supportingfour pictures, as shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 6, the lower and largerpictures, M M, rest, one on one pair of outstretched arms D D and theother on the other pair of arms, all these arms being provided with ribsin m, to prevent the outward displacement of' the lower edge of thepictures.

(See Fig. 4.) The section h of the cap of the,

pedestal rests on the upper edges of the frames of both pictures, andthe outward displace ment of the upper edges of these frames may beprevented by different kinds of stops or catches on the under side ofthe said section h of the cap. In the present instance springbolts 10are arranged 'to slide in the section h, each bolt having a lug, g,which is pressed against the frame by a spring.

Two smaller pictures, H H, are held by and between the two sections ofthe cap of the pedestal, preferably in the inclined position shown bydotted lines in Fig. 6, owing to the height at which these pictures arenecessarily arranged above the floor, the lower edge of thepicture-frames being retained on the sectionh by ribs or pegs and theupper edges by spring-bolts or other available fastenings on the underside of the upper section, d.

When the easel has to support two large pictures the section It maybeelevated to any extent which the depth of the picture-frame may demand,and the two pictures may be held by and between the outstretched arms DD and the said section h.

It will be seen on reference to Figs. 3 and 5 that the section h of thecap of the pedestal is recessed for the reception of two elastic arms,which are secured to the said sect-ion, each elastic arm being providedwith a roller, f, of rubber or other yielding material, one rollerbearin g against one edge and the other against the other edge of theextension-slide B.

If the section It is elevated above the position shown in Fig. 6 for thepurpose of adjustin g a large picture to the easel, the rollers of theelastic arms will bear against the upper extension-slide, and when thesection It is depressed the rollers will pass from the upperextension-slide and down the inclined top of the lower extension-slideand again occupy the position shown in Fig. 5, the elastic arms andtheir rollers thus serving to steady the section It, no matter what itsposition may be, and also serving by the friction which they impart toprevent the section from sliding downward without the exercise of forceto depress it.

When the pictures have been removed from the easel the extensionslide Jmay be depressed into the extension-slide B and both slides into thepedestal, into which also will pass the arms D D, for the latter, indepressing the extension-slide B, will turn upward on their hinges andtake their places in the openings (1. a of the pedestal, Fig. 7, the twosections d and it becoming the ornamental cap of the pedestal, as shownin Figs. 2 and 3.

In some instances the structure may be required for a locality wherepictures arranged back to back cannot be viewed conveniently, in whichcase one pair of arms D D for one lower picture will be required, andthe opening in the pedestal may be of the shape shown in Fig. 8.

I prefer to provide the extension-slide B with rubber rollers t t, Fig.5, for hearing against the interior of the pedestal, and to furnish thelatter with similar rollers bearing against the slide, the lower edge ofthe second extension-slide and the section It being also furnished withsimilar rollers, which,being of yielding material, impart frictionenough to retain the slides in any position to which they may beadjusted, but permit the slides to be moved by the exercise of a slighteffort. These rollers may be attached to elastic arms, if desired, orspring-plates may be substituted for the rollers.

In making the structure it will not be necessary to adhere to theprecise shape shown of the extension-slides, or to that of the openingsin the pedestal for admitting the slides. In some cases there may be athird, and even a fourth, slide.

I claim as my invention 1.. The combination of the pedestal A and thecentral slide, B, havingat the top a flat cap, Gr, projecting on bothsides of the slide, the whole forming, when the slide is extended, asupport for two pictures placed back to back, and when the slide isdepressed constituting a flat topped pedestal adapted to support astatuette, as set forth.

2. The combination of the hollow pedestal- A, having a fiat top, withthe extension-slide B, having arms D hinged thereto, said arms beingadapted to fold together and enter the pedestal with the slide B, butresting upon and being supported by the flat top of the pedestal whenthe slide is extended, all substantially as described.

3. The combination of the hollow pedestal A, the extension-slide D andits hinged arms, the second extension-slide, J, and the cap G, made intwo sections, at and h, the former being attachedto the slide J and thelatter being adapted to slide thereon, all substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

E. G. OHORMANN.

Witnesses:

HARRY DRURY, HARRY SMITH.

